Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2021 i Trail

I had one of those frustratingly rare experiences recently where I tried something completely new. I won’t bore you with all the details here but there’s a clue in the photo above, and you can read all the gory details in the article on page 30. The end result was the most memorable mountain trip I’ve had in years and it made me realise the value of pushing your own boundaries and daring to stretch yourself beyond your regular comfort zone. I’m not talking about taking daft risks or trying something unnecessarily dangerous – more about waking up one morning with the tingly feeling of excitement that only new experiences can bring. That could be climbing a new peak, walking in a new National Park (or even a new country),…

Trail’s 2021 Mountain Photo of the Year competition is not just a great excuse to get out into the hills more – there’s a trio of fantastic prizes to be won too. And this year’s prizes are better than ever, with three awesome Fujifilm cameras, the world’s warmest Zerofit base layers, and Affinity photo software up for grabs. Entries close on 3 September 2021, and the public vote will then go live on 25 September so you can have your say on the winning shots. ▲ Need help capturing that winning mountain image? See pages 56-57 for top tips to improve your phone photography. How to enter Take a stunning photo anywhere in the UK mountains. Upload up to three entries at www.lfto.com/mountainphoto21 Entries close at 5pm on Friday 3…

[IMAGE ADVICE] HOW TO TAKE GREAT MOUNTAIN PHOTOS WITH YOUR PHONE ENTER MOUNTAIN PHOTO OF THE YEAR PAGE 8 1 Get a tough case and keep it clean. A super robust case will protect your phone against drops or knocks on the hill, but remember to keep the lenses on the phone and case clean and smear-free. A wipe with a soft cloth should do it. 2 Remember the ruleof-thirds. Imagine a 3x3 grid of squares across your image and use the lines and sections they create to construct your image. The four points where the lines cross are known as power points, so try to align these with the parts of your image you most want to highlight. 3 Think about what you want to convey. If it’s height,…

THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN OUTDOOR KIT TRAIL VERDICT Whatever the weather there’s a Zerofit base layer that will ensure you stay comfortable and protected. You may not have heard of Zerofit before, and that’s not surprising. While this Japanese brand has been doing well in its native markets, it’s only in 2021 that it has really been making any ripples over here. But ripples it is making; Zerofit’s base layers are finding fans in golf, sailing, motorcycling and, of course, outdoor enthusiasts. The flagship product is the Heatrub Ultimate, a full winter base layer that claims to be five times warmer than a regular base layer. At the other end of the scale, Zerofit has its Cold Skin base layers which actively cool the wearer and offer sun protection in…

KEY FEATURES CAPACITY For a big walk (days or even weeks) you’ll need 50-65 litres. Manufacturers calculate volume by filling a pack with 20mm plastic balls, then placing them in a volumetric cylinder for measurement. Most brands include the pockets, while others maximise volume by unrolling storm collars and roll-top closures. COMPRESSION STRAPS Most packs have compression straps or cords to cinch in the load for added stability. They can also be used to carry extra gear on the outside of the pack or underneath the lid. EXTERNAL POCKETS A front stretch pocket is useful for stowing extra layers. Side pockets are good for water bottles. Hipbelt pockets are handy for snacks and tech devices, as is a lid or top pocket. EXTRA COMPARTMENTS & ACCESS Many packs have a…

DIFFICULTY HARD DISTANCE 14KM TIME 7 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 850M SCRAMBLE GRADE 1 PEAK BAGGER STATS WAINWRIGHTS 3 TRAIL 100s 1 The clue is in the name. Glenderamackin sounds like a winding, intriguing river, and that’s exactly what it is. Where other valley systems offer horseshoe walks, the rim of Glenderamackin is a twisty zigzag. There’s a long ridgeline to Bowscale Fell as a gentle warm-up. Then a grassy plateau and the cliffrimmed corrie of Bannerdale Crags. At the back corner of Blencathra is the saddle that’s Glenderamackin’s head, and here there are two ways to go. This summer especially, one may be wanting a less busy way to Blencathra. Foule Crag is it, with grand views across to Sharp Edge as you go up. On the other hand, Sharp…

DIFFICULTY HARD DISTANCE 17KM TIME 7 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 1150M PEAK BAGGER STATS TRAIL 100s 1 At 782m, Moel Hebog (the Bare Hill of the Falcon) is the highest of the so-called Nantlle Hills. It’s also the most imposing, towering over the chocolate box village of Beddgelert. It’s one of those hills that really doesn’t have an easy way to climb it. But it’s also one that always pays back with amazing views west to the coast and north to the Snowdon massif. And surprisingly, despite the mountain’s close proximity to some of the area’s most popular tourist attractions, it’s one of those hills you can still find real solitude on. Especially if you approach from the remote valleys to the south. This walk does just that, bagging the rugged,…

The Cairngorms can be extremely busy with walkers throughout the year. However, there are still some locations where a little solitude can be found, and these fabulous routes will allow you to, for a time, get away from the hordes. The Munro of Bynack More will be busy, but if you return through Strath Nethy’s lonely confines then you may not see another soul. Sections of day two might be even quieter as it leads you well off the beaten track, to visit a remote, wild and inspiring landscape, above Loch Etchachan. Day three stays off the big tops entirely, but still climbs onto the superb vantage point of Creag a’ Chalamain before negotiating the infamous Chalamain Gap. ROUTE 7 Bynack More & Strath Nethy ROUTE 8 Fiacaill a’ Choire…

CAMP HERE You’ve probably never heard of Dodd – a small, outlying 641m summit below Red Pike in the western Lakes. A short walk from Buttermere and Crummock Water, it isn’t much to look at from below, just a rounded grassy hump that blends into the foreground of the impressive High Stile range. Dodd isn’t even one of the 214 peaks that make up Alfred Wainwright’s much lauded Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells, and as a consequence doesn’t darken the boots of many walkers. But what a place to spend the night. With a clear view west out of the Lake District to the Irish Sea, the Solway Firth and Scotland’s Galloway hills, on a clear night the sunsets are a thing of wonder. If you can find somewhere…

LAKE DISTRICT CATSTYE CAM There must be hundreds of peaks that can claim to be unfairly overlooked; hills and mountains whose proximity to more desirable summits mean their own are habitually bypassed. But few see as much traffic pass them by as poor old Catstye Cam. Part of the Helvellyn massif, it is nonetheless an outlier, linked to the plateau by the rocky crest of Swirral Edge. Which only makes any feelings of rejection Catstye Cam might feel even worse. The Helvellyn ridge horseshoe is one of the most popular walks in the Lake District, but after watching all those boots head along Striding Edge, up to the summit of Helvellyn, and then down Swirral Edge, Catstye Cam has to stand silent as, just when it seems these walkers might…

Tucked away in Glenmore Forest, beside Loch Morlich and surrounded by some of the greatest mountain scenery in Britain (see p25), this Camping and Caravanning Club site could be the most sublime ‘view with a room’ imaginable. Of course, you have to bring your own room, in the form of a tent, camper or caravan, but in return you’ll get access to this unbelievable location. Despite being a large campsite with all the facilities you could need or want, you can hide yourself away in the woods, and follow sandy trails that lead you out, in a matter of metres, to a magical sandy beach 300m above sea-level! Awesome. campingintheforest.co.uk READ THIS! New for summer 2021 - Day Walks in Loch Lomond & the Trossachs features 20 day-length, OS-mapped routes…

Crib Goch Snowdonia “Here’s my brother, Angus, enjoying dawn on top of Crib Goch, at the start of an epic day out over the 15 Welsh 3000s. It’s been on the bucket list since I was a kid, when my Dad would tell stories of epic days out in the hills. Finally got it done and we loved every minute, despite the weather taking a turn for the worse over the Carneddau.” Tom Clayton, Surrey Pen y Fan Brecon Beacons “This is Toby (aged 7) on his first proper expedition. We wild camped at Llyn Cwm Llwch, wild swam with the leeches and made the summit of Pen y Fan the next day! Having planned to go last Easter, with one thing and another this gem of a trip has…

You don’t always have to seek out the longest, deepest, most vast stretches of water to be blown away by mountains lakes and lochs. Some of the most magical locations are often hidden away in the fold of a hillside or concealed beneath crags, rewarding walkers, scramblers and climbers for their efforts when they get away from the beaten track. Here we showcase some of our favourites, from the wild peaks of the Hebrides to the green woodlands of the Lake District, all offering peace and tranquility, and more stunning wild swimming spots. ■ LOCHAN MEALL AN T-SUIDHE (HALFWAY LOCHAN), Ben Nevis, Central Highlands ■ RYDAL WATER, Fairfield, Lake District ■ LOCH COIR’ A’ GHRUNNDA, Sgurr Alasdair, Isle of Skye ■ SPRINKLING TARN, Great End, Lake District ■ GLASLYN, Snowdon,…

YOUR TESTER James Forrest A prolific peak bagger and wild camper who’s climbed hundreds of mountains in the UK and abroad, James gives his gear a serious thrashing on every trip. It can sometimes feel like you’ll need to re-mortgage the house, work extra shifts for the next 12 months or land a nice win on the Premium Bonds to be able to afford the latest outdoor gear. Prices for the newest tech and updated designs are as eye-wateringly steep as Kirk Fell’s nose, and – unless you’re flush with cash – you’ll be forced to hunt around for bargains or end-of-line sales. This can be a time-consuming task, with the added complication of differentiating between naff products deserving of a low price-tag and those that offer impressive performance despite…

Room for 1 Rab Ridge Raider Bivi £350 I’ve had a lot of rough nights in bivvy bags, lying cocooned in a waterproof bin bag with the fabric pressed against my face and wondering why I didn’t just book a hotel room. But the Rab Ridge Raider has an overhead pole hoop that lifts the material away from you, meaning that as well as getting a decent night sleep you can read books, eat, get changed or faff with your phone without having to get out of the bag. The integrated mosquito mesh door means on warm nights you can sleep with the main door open, allowing condensation to escape so the interior doesn’t get damp. Rab has released an updated version since I got this one, introducing Pertex Shield…

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM DISTANCE 14KM TIME 5 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 774M PEAK BAGGER STATS WAINWRIGHTS 4 TRAIL 100s 1 Every Lakeland fellwalker is familiar with the classic outline of the Langdale Pikes as they tower over the valley of Great Langdale looking steep and almost unclimbable in some views. Most people who aspire to ascend these iconic giants do so via Stickle Tarn and Pavey Ark, but there is another way of doing this superb ridge walk that takes you into areas you may not be familiar with. This route takes you down lovely Mickleden to its end and then climbs to the summit of the lonely Stake Pass. From here your way lies up Martcrag Moor to scramble to the summit of Pike o’ Stickle (708m). There then follows a…

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM DISTANCE 11.5KM TIME 6 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 825M PEAK BAGGER STATS WAINWRIGHTS 1 TRAIL 100s 1 This is one of those days which packs in so much more than the map suggests. The fun starts straightaway, ducking through scrub and ascending scree onto the Yewdale Fells. These foothills between Coniston and Tilberthwaite are a popular location for navigation training, as you’ll discover! Then it’s on to the main attraction: Steel Edge. In technical terms, it’s probably slightly shy of a true Grade 1, but it’s steep and rocky enough to guarantee repeated use of hands. And while you’re undeniably high, exposure is low. The summits of Wetherlam and Black Sails hold their own too, with incredible views across the Lake District. The lesser-used descent from Black Sails to…

The panoramic Nantlle Ridge is a bona fide Snowdonia classic, and a ‘must-do’ for any experienced hillwalker with a head for heights and the ability to tackle simple scrambles. Unfortunately, walking it can be tricky. It is usually done as a linear route from Rhyd Ddu, leaving the logistical challenge of getting back to your start point. But this extended figure of eight circuit starts from Cwm Pennant and heads straight up onto the ridge, splitting it into western and eastern sections that can be traversed over two days, interspersed with an easy lower-level day that takes you along the dramatic Nantlle Valley. Spend the first night wild camping up on the westernmost summit of the ridge and the second at picturesque Tal y Mignedd Isaf farm campsite. ROUTE 10…

THE AMPUTEE FUNDRAISER “I lost a limb, not my life” In 2017 BEN LOVELL had his right leg amputated due to a blood clot, a lifechanging moment that led him to some dark places. But during lockdown he made a decision not to live in the past by telling himself ‘I lost a limb, not my life’. This is the story of how he’s using his experiences to fundraise and inspire others. “I asked myself, how could I inspire other amputees to believe the same ethos as me? It was then that the idea came to me that I could start AmpCamp, for amputees to come together and share their own experiences, rehabilitating themselves and their lives with a little help along the way. “I’ve just returned from my very first camp…

BREATHABILITY VS WEATHERPROOFING While a good level of wind- and waterproofing is desirable in shell layers which form the outer face of your protection, for mid layers it’s more important that they are breathable, allowing moisture from your sweat to escape without making you feel clammy or cold. FIT & STRETCH A snug, close-fitting mid layer will work better under outer layers but can feel restrictive unless the material has a good level of stretch. This is particularly important for more upper-body-intensive activities such as scrambling and climbing. QUICK DRYING Part of a mid layer’s ability to keep you comfortable is how quickly it dries. If it wicks your sweat rapidly but then holds on to it, you’ll soon become uncomfortable. Likewise if you’re caught in a sudden downpour before…

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM DISTANCE 18.5KM TIME 6 HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 485M Leave the crowds to the other side of the hill and walk across isolated moorlands teeming with birdlife, lizards, and the sense of wildness and isolation that is often missing when walking in the Peak District. This walk begins with a stiff climb up on to the moorland then a walk along an ancient peat cutting awash with ponds, wildlife, cotton grass, and signs of significant raptor activity. Then a short ascent up to the curvaceous rock formations of Bleaklow Stones and some superb views across the Peak District. A short walk takes you to the outcrop of Grinah Stones for more fine views before seeking out the source of the River Derwent. The route then drops via Barrow Stones…

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM DISTANCE 17KM TIME 6½ HOURS TOTAL ASCENT 1015M PEAK BAGGER STATS TRAIL 100s 1 If you’ve ever driven along the A470 and seen the long line of people walking from the Storey Arms up the hill towards Pen y Fan and thought to yourself, ‘it’s not for me’, then this route to the top from the north-east might just be the one for you. Starting at the old army training camp in Cwm Gwdi, the route takes you along a low-level traverse of the hills and cwms to reach the beginning of the ascent to Fan y Big. This is a gentle uphill stroll with the mountains of Cribyn and Pen y Fan gradually revealing themselves to you as you gain height. From the top of Fan y…

Ok, so they’re isn’t anything ‘new’ to do when it comes to the A-list mountain that is Helvellyn. But you can be more original by not doing the obvious. For my money, Catstye Cam is the star of the show, so let’s make it the first of our five peaks... Glenridding is the place to start from. Get there early, not only to get a place in the large car park (map point 1, NY386169) but also to get on the hill before the true popularity of the area is revealed. The walk west through the village and onto Greenside Road (map point 2, NY381170) is quicker than you might expect. I love that rough track that leads up to YHA Helvellyn. If you have the choice, then this is…

In the land of Eryri, most ridges are proud, boastful things. Crib Goch tears across the sky, making even those sure-footed folk on the Miners’ Path feel dizzy with height as they gaze up at it. Bristly Ridge is similarly bold, thrusting its daggered spines upwards and from the skyline above Cwm Bochlywd, while Tryfan’s North Ridge dominates the view most of the way along the A5. It’d be easy to assume that anything worth the effort of climbing will make itself known, and everything else can be ignored. This, of course, is nonsense, and Pen yr Ole Wen’s Pinnacle Ridge is the perfect example. It lurks amongst the crags and gullies of Braich Ty Du on the mountain’s western face. Just one broken rock spur amongst many, it’s hidden…

Beinn Dorain is a key landmark on the journey into the Highlands, its steep slopes and distinctive summit cone sweeping up from the A82 road, the West Highland railway line and the West Highland Way trail. The massive, unbroken slopes when viewed from Bridge of Orchy show off the sheer scale of the mountain, while the eastern approaches explore Beinn Dorain’s quiet, spectacular corries. Even better, its close proximity to the neighbouring peak of Beinn an Dothaidh allows you to bag two Munros in one day if your legs and lungs are up to it. There are further routes from the north that take in Beinn an Dothaidh first, but we’ve focused on the four immediate trails approaching Beinn Dorain from the A82. VIEW FROM THE WEST 1 FROM BRIDGE…